What Are The Damages Suffered By Family That Grieves A Wrongful Death?

The legal system recognizes the fact that an event caused by nature could not be held responsible for someone’s death. The victim of such an event has not suffered what would qualify under the law as a wrongful death. However, if the deceased had been the victim of negligence or of intentional actions, then the relatives of the deceased could consider filing for a wrongful death case. That same group of relatives could seek compensation for at least two types of damages. In some cases, the grieving loved ones could seek compensation for a third damage.

Damages suffered by victim before his or her life came to an end

The costs of treatment for any injuries or for any medical care received, while trying to recover from any injury inflicted by the defendant. These fall under the heading of medical damages.

One of the damages suffered by the victim related to victim’s lost income. Having been the victim of negligence or of intentional actions, the severely injured victim could not show up for work and carry out his or her job-related responsibilities. Obviously, the victim had failed to appear and perform those duties, after becoming the target of a wrongful action.

A third category of damages falls under the heading of pain and suffering. It would be difficult to argue against a claim that an injured victim had been forced to endure a certain amount of pain. If the victim’s injuries necessitated some sort of hospitalization that that could be used to highlight the degree of the victim’s suffering. A hospitalized patient normally remains bedridden for at least a part of that same patient’s stay.

The cost of the final two damages had to be borne by the family of the deceased. That was the cost of the funeral and burial. That same group of relatives had to cover other costs as well.

Losses (damages) suffered by the next-of-kin

• Inability of deceased to work up until his or her retirement age
• Loss of consortium; loss of love and companionship: This damage is not always awarded to members of the grieving family; the laws in the appropriate state determine whether or not that gets considered as a damage that needs to be compensated.

Other damaged that could be claimed by next-of-kin

If their loved one had been killed by someone’s vengeful actions, those grieving relatives could claim punitive damages with the help of personal injury lawyer in Orillia. The defendant gets punished by being hit with the need to come forward with that added amount of money. The court hopes that the defendant’s punishment would add to any other punishment, which could have been determined by a criminal trial. Two juries issue a verdict on the defendant’s innocence.